Yellow Margarine: I Can't Believe It's Not Legal!

Posted by Alex in Crime & Law, Food & Drinks on December 20, 2008 at 1:52 pm


Did you know that if you buy yellow margarine in Missouri you’re commiting a crime? A 19th century state law banned the sale of yellow margarine, though "it’s been years since any violator was ordered to spread ‘em."

Most of Missouri’s restrictions on imitation butter date to 1895, and they were last amended in 1939. Although the state no longer enforces them, the penalties could still make dealers in contraband dairy product toast: up to a month in jail and a $100 fine for first-time offenders and six months in jail and a $500 fine for repeat offenders.

Enforcement of the law falls to the state Agriculture Department, and officials there didn’t know when someone was last prosecuted under it. Case records from the late 19th and early 20th century show that Missouri courts upheld the constitutionality of the restrictions in several appeals.

Agriculture Department spokeswoman Misti Preston said it’s likely that the Legislature restricted margarine and other imitation butter products to protect Missouri’s dairy industry, which was a key business for the state in the early 20th century.

Link (yep, I got the the funny title from there) – via Bits & Pieces


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COMMENT

12 comments to "Yellow Margarine: I Can't Believe It's Not Legal!"

  1. SimonSays
    December 20th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    The same law exists in the province of Quebec!

  2. Paul Woodford
    December 20th, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    I remember my grandfather taking me to lunch at a cafeteria in Jackson, Missouri, sometime in the 1950s. They had margarine, but it could only be served in little pats, cut in triangular shapes, to distinguish it from real butter. It was one of many laws written to protect dairy interests, and I bet it's still on the books. When I was in the service, military messes and chow halls could only serve real butter. Don't know if that's still the case.

  3. Skipweasel
    December 20th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

    There's no shortage of old laws still lurking on the statute books.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6204511.stm
    for just a small selection.

  4. Rocky Rook
    December 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    I've heard of other outdated laws still on the books in Missouri. They must not do a lot of legislating there.

  5. DOJ
    December 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    This is why laws should have sunset clauses.

  6. liphttam1
    December 20th, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    To many old laws that make no sense.

    You cant look out of an airplane at a moose in canada.

    "Sir were you looking at that moose down there?"

    "no but how did you know there was a moose down there?"

    "uhh"

  7. Ray
    December 21st, 2008 at 7:01 am

    I remember in Canada when margarine came with a little orange packet of dye that you could mix into the white glop to create this ghastly-colored mix.

  8. dimestore
    December 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am

    Ray brings up a point there. It wasn't just Missouri where this was the law. It was pretty much everywhere that it was illegal to sell yellow margarine. The Margarine sold with little yellow coloring packets is also a favorite of crossword puzzle writers; Oleo.

  9. Him
    December 21st, 2008 at 11:59 am

    Huh, it just occurred to me that most ALL margarine and butter is yellow....

  10. Rob
    December 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm

    I believe that the precursor of the ATF used to enforce the margarine dye laws.

  11. SparkS
    December 21st, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    Paul Woodford
    "When I was in the service, military messes and chow halls could only serve real butter. Don’t know if that’s still the case."

    Some time while I was in the navy (66-86) I heard they were required by law to serve only butter. So it was still in effect til mid 60's at least.

    Thank you for your service Paul.

    (There is some federal law from 1886 regarding margarine and butter but I couldn't find anything definite and gave up. Not even sure if that's the one.)

  12. RindaBird
    November 11th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    I believe Margarine is causing major heart problems. How did I learn this? Well I believe my own brother overdosed my mother with Blue Bonnet and Gravy. So if its true that Margarine turns into a hard plastic and if a fire won't even go away in a fire, what in the heck are we putting this poison in our bodies? There sould be major studies done on this product so we can save lives!! Thanks! Rinda Bird! myspace.com/grandmamichele


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